Justice That Heals: Integrating Psychology Into Victim Rehabilitation
- IJLLR Journal
- Feb 27
- 1 min read
Govardhini V, B.A.LL.B. (Hons.), School of Excellence in Law, Tamil Nadu Dr. Ambedkar Law University
Sugith Kumar R G, BCA LLB (Hons.), LLM (criminal law), PhD (pursuing), Law faculty, School of Excellence in Law, TNDALU
ABSTRACT
In our rapidly advancing, technology-driven world, crime rates are rising, occurring anytime and anywhere. While legislatures prescribe punishments for offenders to protect society, they often neglect victims' psychological and emotional well-being. Victims are thrust into a protracted judicial process that exacerbates their distress, compelling them to relive harrowing experiences under intense scrutiny. This systemic neglect precipitates severe mental health disruptions, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, depression, and diminished life functioning, ultimately hindering societal reintegration. Victims face immense pressure navigating the judicial process, leading to severe mental health disruptions. Legislative frameworks prioritize punitive measures against perpetrators to safeguard societal order. However, this paradigm inadvertently sidelines the psychological and emotional ramifications endured by victims, subjecting them to protracted judicial scrutiny that exacerbates trauma. This paper explores the vital interplay between forensic psychology and jurisprudence for survivor recovery, shifting from penalty-centric to renewal-oriented strategies. Victimization, characterized by acute stress responses, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and diminished psychosocial functioning, underscores the necessity for a rehabilitative legal architecture. This paper critically analyses the imperative for synergising psychology and law to foster comprehensive victim rehabilitation. By formulating evidence-based policies that prioritise victims' rights to rehabilitation, the legal system can mitigate long-term mental health disruptions, empower resilience, and restore agency. This interdisciplinary approach not only heals traumatized minds but also fortifies the criminal justice system's efficacy in promoting holistic justice.
Keywords: Rehabilitation, Victim, trauma, perpetrator, psychology.
